466 
APPENDIX. No. I. 
manner the Annamaboes had offended, he would use his authority to have satisfaction 
given: that until he was assured of their having transgressed, or having injured his 
Majesty, they were entitled to the protection of the fort, if they sought for it: and that, 
finally, if the King's army should come with any hostile intentions near the fort, it would 
be fired upon. 
After this two or three of the heavy guns were fired with shot, for the purpose of 
giving them an idea of the destructive power of artillery; and they were preparing to 
depart, when private information was received, that the flag of truce would be violated in 
its return, and the men murdered. Whereupon Mr. White and Mr. Wilson (a gentle- 
man not in the service,) escorted them, and left them in safety within a short distance 
from their quarters. The Governor now anxiously looked for a definitive reply from the 
King, and every assiduity was used to place things in a defensive position ; and the 
towns-people having heretofore placed a firm reliance on their strength, became alarmed, 
and were solicitous to bje assured of the Governor's protection. Mr. White informed 
them, that if the King of Ashantee intended to attack the town, he would give them all 
the assistance and protection in his power; at the same time advised them of the most 
prudent measures to be employed for their safety and defence. He instructed them, in 
the first instance, to have strong parties on the look-out, and to guard every avenue lead- 
ing into the town; and, on the first alarm, or approach of the enemy, to send the old 
men, women, and children to the fort, where they would be received ; and as many as 
the fort would not accommodate, to come close to the walls, where they would be under 
the protection of the guns. 
At this crisis Mr, White and the inhabitants of the town were ignorant as to the 
strength of the Ashantee forces, and had but an imperfect idea of the bravery and intre- 
pidity of the men who composed the King's army. It was supposed that the Ashantees 
partook of the dispositions of the natives on the coast, who in general cannot stand against 
a regular and determined fire, and often creep into some concealed hole, when cannon or 
musket shot are heard to whiz among them ; or, if the Ashantees were superior, it was 
little imagined that their courage, or ardour for conquest, would carry them to the very 
muzzles of the guns, and consequently expose them to inevitable destruction. 
About a week had elapsed, and. no news from the King ; which was no favourable in- 
dication of pacific measures. The commander of the division at Cormantine, and who 
proved to be the King of Dinkara, sent forward a party to ascertain the strength of the 
town of Annamaboe, and succeeded in gaining possession of a village called Agah, 
situated upon a point of land about one mile eastward from Annamaboe ; whence every 
movement of the Annamaboes on that side could be observed. This was considered an 
annoyance, and on the 14th of June a strong body (indeed almost the whole of the town's 
people) marched put for the purpose of dislodging the Ashantees. The action was clearly 
